Ten Days to Kamikaze – Part I

Ten Days to Kamikaze – Part I

Ten Days to Kamikaze is a series that explores the decision-making process and implementation of Japan’s use of suicidal crash dives during World War II. It provides an in-depth review of the critical ten-day period and examines the background leading up to...
Japanese Air Raid on Calcutta – December 1943

Japanese Air Raid on Calcutta – December 1943

The Japanese air raid on Calcutta, India on December 5, 1943, while perhaps not of immense importance compared to many other events of World War Two, provides interesting perspective on the forces and tactics of the combatants in southeast Asia during the war. In the...
Okumura’s Ten Victory Day (14 September 1943)

Okumura’s Ten Victory Day (14 September 1943)

This article constitutes a preliminary effort to relate the victory claims of Chief Petty Officer Takao Okumura on 14 September 1943 to Allied activities and actual losses. Okumura’s ten victories in a single day are believed to constitute the highest one day claim of...

Yap’s Air Campaign

Backwater to FrontlineYap Island was a Backwater of the Pacific War save for a brief period when it became the center of opposition to the bombers of the recently formed Far East Air Force (FEAF) of the United States Army Air Force. On June 15th, 1944 the 5th and 13th...